Ingrown-toenail appliance



Apr. 10, 1923.

G. W. SMITH INGROWN TOENAIL APPLIANCE Filed Sept. 20, 1920 Patent Apr. 10, 1923.

.UNITED 1,451,11 PATENT OFFICE.

our WM. SMITH, or rAonrA, COLORADO.

INGROWN-TOENAIL APPLIANCE.

Application. filed September 20, 1920. Serial No. 411,356.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Dr. GUY WM.'SMITH,

a citizen of the United States, residing at.

pliance for remed ing and-curing ingrown toe-nails, which, or various reasons grow into the flesh of the toes at the corners of the nails, causing theflesh to become swollen and irritated, and resulting in pain and irritation, especially when the shoe nail down against the flesh.

It is the object of the-invention to provide an extremely simple device for application to the ingrown toe-nail and operable for presses the lifting the corners thereof away from the flesh, so as to afi'ord immediate relief from pain and irritation, and to correct the position and form of the nail, and give the flesh in opportunity to heal, and such device being so constructed that it will not interfere with the wearing of hose, and footwear.

A further object is to so construct the device that it is readily adjusted to toe-nails of different sizes or widths with equal facility, and the sections or parts of the device being maintained in their adjusted position when the device is applied, to avoid accidental adjustment or loosening.

With the. foregoing and other objects in view, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the arrangement and construction of parts here'- inafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

' The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of the device as applied to a toe-nail.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device in its natural position before attachment.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the device as applied to the toe-nail.

The appliance is constructed of two flat resilient strips or sections 6 and. 7 of metal or other suitable material, each of a length less than the width, of the toe-nails for which are similarl the appliance is'suited, and such strips can 7 be of different lengths for large and small nails, although the device is adjustable within certain limits, for nails of different sizes or widths. The strips 6 and 7 are formed at their opposite ends with hooks 8 to enga' e around and under the edge of the toe-nail.

near the corners of the nail, and said strips are n0rn 1ally flat, as seen in Fig. 2, and thlelr ad acent end portions overlap each 0t er.

r The strips or sections 6 and 7 are slidably v connected, for adjusting the device to dif- I ferent lengths for --nails of different sizes.

Thus, the strip 6 has ears 9 at its side edges adjacent to its inner end bent downwardly and inwardl around and under the edges of the strip 7, and the edges of the strip 7 provided with cars 10 at the nner end 0 the strip 7 bent upwardly and inwardly toward one another around and over the edge portions of the strip 6. Thus, each strip has means at its inner end slidably embracing the other strip, whereby the two strips can he slid toward or away from one another to decrease or increasethe length of the device to the width of the nail. This adjustment of the device is .readily done when the strips are straight, as seen in Fig. 2, and when the strips are bent over the nail and the hooks 8 engaged with the edges of the nail, as seen in Fig. 3, the bending of the strips will cause the strips to bind or grip within the ears or portions 10, thereby preventing the sliding adjustment of the'strips in this position, and avoiding accidental adjustment or loosening of the device when applied. In applying the device the strips are separated sufficiently so that the hooks can be moved across the edges of the toenail. The intermediate portion of the device, which is of double thickness, owing to the overlapping of the strips, is then placed on the toenail between the edges thereof, and this portion of' double thickness will be stiffer than the terminal portions; The terminal portions of the strips having the hooks are then sprung toward the edges of the nail, thereby moving the hooks across said edges, and the strips are then pushed or forced together, to move the hooks under the edges not he slid or adjusted while bent, the strips are adjusted while straight to the width of slipped on the nail from the end thereof.

The device occupies very little space over the toe-nail, and will not irritate or chafe the flesh. Owing to the fact that the strips 6 and 7 are sprung or bowed over the nail, they have a tendency to straighten out, thereby lifting the corners-of the nail upwardly away from the flesh, and giving relief from the irritation and pain. Furthermore, the corners of the nail are kept in raised position, thereby correcting the shape and growth of the nail, so that it assumes more of a flat shape, and also giving the flesh under th nail an opportunity toheal and become normal, so that when the device is finally removed, no further trouble with the toe-nail will be had. The device being of thin metal, can be worn without interference with the hose and footwear, and, furthermore, will not causeannoyance by contact with the bed covering when sleeping. lhe device can be worn for any period of time, until the toenail and flesh have been corrected, and is entirely sanitary and will not infect the tissues.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is An ingrown toenail appliance comprising a pair of resilient strips having their adjacent end portions overlapping and slidably connected for purpose v0t adjustment and C. C. HAWKINS, W. L. DONALDSON.

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